I’m glad I’m not a university president this week. Over the last few days, Gaza solidarity encampments have popped up at McGill and UBC, following in the footsteps of student protests in America. Protest leaders say they won’t take down their tents until administrators meet their demands. Graduation is just around the corner, and university presidents face some tough decisions. It’s their job to promote free expression and open debate while also ensuring students adhere to campus regulations and conventions of civil discourse.
Randy Boyagoda, a professor and novelist, and vice-dean at the University of Toronto, is on a crusade to bring healthy debate and productive dialogue to university campuses. He’s the inaugural special adviser on civil discourse, and it looks to me like he has his work cut out for him.
On Thursday night, he’ll be speaking in Toronto at the Maclean’s Ideas Summit, an in-person event hosted by this magazine, talking about his important and challenging work. He’ll be joined by several other fascinating Canadians who are tackling the most pressing issues our country faces today. If you’re in Toronto this week, please join me. The conversation is going to be great. Limited tickets are still available, and I’d love to see you there.
—Sarah Fulford, editor-in-chief
